You can catch up: Why common core standards are not as important as you think
When a toddler takes a few steps and falls down, we say he is “learning to walk.” We don’t say he’s “failing to walk.” But
The American Myth of Illiteracy: How Education Worked Before Taxpayer-Funded Schooling
If you want to sell someone something, you first have to convince them that they need it. This rationalization is the likely source of a
How deaf kids created (and Learned) their own sign language
Fifty years ago in parts of Central and South America, being a deaf child was almost unimaginably isolating. Deaf kids were usually kept at home,
The Military-Industrial History of American Public Education
The history of the American public school system has been a long, multi-faceted attempt to “correct,” coercively if needed, the peculiar individualism of the American
Questions to ask when considering a new school
If you’re considering a non-traditional education for your child, you likely know first hand that “default” models of schooling aren’t right for everyone. That’s why
57 Things You Can Do Today, If You Can’t Pull Your Kid from Public School
Generally, we’re emphatic supporters of alternative education options, and choosing the learning environment that works best for your individual child. But if leaving institutional school
How to tell the in-laws you’re unschooling
Many American readers will gather this week around Thanksgiving tables with rarely seen relatives, only to have their parenting choices roasted right alongside the turkey.
For Real, Right Now: How Agile Learning Empowers Kids
At an Agile Learning Center outside Atlanta, under a tent, eleven kids are clustered around a white board for Morning Meeting. Perched on stools or
Unlocking Motivation: How to Get Your Kid Excited about Learning
Well-meaning parents can say, “Just do the algebra – it’s good for you!” in the same way they might command a kid to eat vegetables
Why one-size-fits-all education is fundamentally flawed
Look around the playground on a summer afternoon. Some kids are playing a competitive round of tetherball. Others swing or slide, going doggedly up and
